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Several state House lawmakers face primary challenges in Macomb County

LANSING -- With a lack of competitive open seats, it's a quieter than normal state House primary election in Macomb County Aug. 4, but a couple of incumbent lawmakers face challenges.

Open seats tend to draw the most candidates and produce competitive races. Only one state lawmaker from Macomb is required to leave office because of term limits this year, and in that strongly Democratic House district, the 22nd, Roseville City Clerk Richard Steenland is heavily favored to succeed Rep. John Chirkun, D-Roseville.

But in the 24th House District, Republican Bill Revoir of Clinton Township is challenging state Rep. Steve Marino, R-Harrison Township, who is seeking a third and final term in the state House.

And in the 31st House District, Democrat Michelle Robertson is challenging state Rep. William Sowerby, D-Clinton Township, who is also seeking a third and final term.

One other Macomb state representative faces a primary challenge. State Rep. Lori Stone , D-Warren, is challenged by William Massad of Centerline in the solidly Democratic 28th House District.

It would be a surprise if any of the incumbents are defeated, partly because the coronavirus pandemic -- which has hampered fund-raising, discouraged door-to-door canvassing, and limited candidate forums -- gives officeholders even greater advantages than those they already enjoy, said Kyle Melinn, editor of Michigan Information & Research Service, a Capitol newsletter. But the races in the 24th and the 31st have the most potential to be interesting, he said.

"There's just not a lot of interest in challenging incumbents right now," Melinn said. "The only way to get out and beat an incumbent is to get out and knock on doors."

24th House District

Marino's Republican-leaning district includes Harrison Township and parts of Clinton and Macomb townships. In addition to the Republican challenge from Revoir, the primary has drawn two Democratic candidates.

Revoir, 66, is backed by Associated Builders and Contractors of Michigan, a group that was unhappy with Marino's "no" vote in 2018, when the GOP-controlled House and Senate approved a citizen initiative to repeal Michigan's prevailing wage law. The law required union wages on most public construction projects.

But Marino is endorsed by the Small Business Association of Michigan, Right to Life of Michigan, and even the Michigan AFL-CIO -- a labor group that rarely endorses Republicans, Melinn noted.

A former Macomb County commissioner who works as an investment and retirement advisor, Revoir said he's satisfied with the repeal of the law and is also concerned about improving roads and education while improving efficiency and keeping down taxes.

He said he does not want to base his campaign on bashing Marino, but he does have concerns about the lawmaker's record.

Revoir questions how Marino can describe himself as a campaign finance consultant when he has had to pay, since 2018, five fines totaling $2,000 for late filing of his own campaign finance reports.

He said he is also concerned about media reports that said Marino did not make himself available to testify as a witness at the 2019 federal bribery trial of state Rep. Larry Inman of Williamsburg, who was expelled from the GOP caucus after his indictment. The trial ended with Inman acquitted on a charge of lying to the FBI, but with the jury unable to reach a verdict on charges of attempted extortion and soliciting a bribe. The case related to allegations Inman sought campaign donations from unions in return for voting "no" on the repeal of the prevailing wage law.

"If you've done nothing wrong, or suspect, why not come out and testify?" Revoir asked. "It just doesn't look good."

Marino was not available for an interview. He said through his campaign manager, Barry Szczesny, that Revoir "should focus on his campaign." As for the Inman case, where a new trial is expected, "I will be readily testifying if called upon," he said.

A former Macomb County commissioner and lobbyist, Marino said on his campaign website he wants to ensure a skilled and talented workforce to help with job creation, rein in wasteful state government spending, repeal the tax on retirement income, oppose higher gas taxes and toll roads, and stop sewer overflows into waters such as Lake St. Clair, among other issues.

More: Open state House seats bring competitive primary races to Oakland County

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"Government doesn't create jobs -- local small businesses create jobs," Marino said on his website.

"However, to increase jobs and household incomes, state government must make smart policy decisions that create an economically competitive environment to ensure talent, infrastructure and resources job creators value most are available here in Michigan."

On the Democratic side, music teacher Michelle Woodman said education is her major issue, and the pandemic has highlighted inequities in areas such as access to computers.

Woodman, of Harrison Township, is involved in planning for the return to classrooms in the Chippewa Valley Schools district, and she is not convinced it can be done safely.

"Protecting our kids is No. 1," said Woodman, 36, who is making her first run for elected office. "We also have to protect our educators."

Active with the Michigan Education Association, Woodman also cites health care and the environment as major issues. She said her experience working collaboratively would serve the district well in Lansing.

Democrat Alex Bronson, 30, who has run a painting and drywall company for eight years, said education and environmental issues are key in his district.

Bronson, of Mt. Clemens, said those include flooding issues and algae blooms in his district and concerns about cuts to education as a result of the coronavirus pandemic. He said he wants better water infrastructure and improved teacher pay.

Bronson founded the American Organization for Scientific Causes, a nonprofit with the goal of giving high school students resources to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) studies in college.

He touts endorsements from the UAW Region 1 and the Michigan AFL-CIO.

31st House District

This Democratic-leaning district includes Fraser, Mt. Clemens, and part of Clinton Township. In addition to the challenge to the Democratic incumbent, the primary features a two-candidate race on the Republican side.

Sowerby, the Democratic incumbent, is a former Macomb County commissioner and Clinton Township treasurer who has backed legislation to increase the minimum wage, repeal Michigan's "right-to-work" law, and increase financial disclosure laws for state lawmakers. None of those measures were adopted in the Republican-controlled Legislature.

Without financial disclosure laws and improved ethics laws such as greater restrictions on gifts from lobbyists to lawmakers, "there is no accountability" in Lansing, said Sowerby, 63.

"We've got a lot of people who are not moving ahead in this especially now, with the pandemic," he said.

"What's important to me is being able to address some of the economic justice, social justice, racial justice and ethics issues."

Robertson, who lives in Fraser and is an executive at a nursing home company, also ran against Sowerby in 2018. She did not respond to interview requests from the Free Press.

"For too long, we have sat back waiting for our politicians to fix things -- we need better schools, more jobs, improved infrastructure and so much more," Robertson said on her campaign website.

"But we are not going to make progress towards those things until we fix what is really broken – the political system itself," Robertson said.

"This year we have the incredible opportunity to vote out the old and get new politicians in place."

On the Republican side, librarian Lisa Valerio-Nowc of Clinton Township is making her third try for the seat.

"I've lived in this area all my life, and we all want a better place to live," said Valerio-Nowc, 53.

Her concerns include greater accountability and transparency in state government, greater access to health insurance and improving literacy.

The other Republican, Austin Negipe, is a 33-year-old mortgage consultant from Clinton Township. He said he is concerned about taxes -- property taxes, the income tax, and the fuel tax, specifically -- and how they are spent.

But he said he has not been able to canvass doors because he is still recovering from recent knee surgery and does not intend to try to raise money unless he wins the primary.

"I'm pretty low-key," he said.

24th House District

Name: Alex Bronson

Residence: Mount Clemens

Party: Democrat

Age: 30

Occupation: Runs a painting and drywall company.

Education: Bachelor's of science in biochemistry, Wayne State University.

Family: Single, no children.

Website: www.alexbronson.com

Name: Steve Marino

Residence: Harrison Township

Party: Republican

Age: 31

Occupation: State representative; president, Campaign Finance Strategies

Education: Bachelor of Arts, MSU, in economics, public policy and political theory.

Family: Single, no children.

Website: www.repstevemarino.com

Name: Bill Revoir

Residence: Clinton Township

Party: Republican

Age: 66

Occupation: Investment advisor

Education: Graduated Lake Shore High School in St. Clair Shores. Attended Macomb Community College and Rhema Bible Training College near Tulsa, Okla., where he received a certificate in biblical studies.

Family: Married, three grown children.

Website: None.

Name: Michelle Woodman

Party: Democrat

Age: 36

Occupation: Teacher

Education: Bachelor's degree, Wayne State University, master's in educational administration, University of Detroit Mercy.

Family: Single, no children.

Website: www.electmichellewoodman.com

31st House District

Name: Austin Negipe

Residence: Clinton Township

Party: Republican

Age: 33

Occupation: Mortgage consultant

Education: Bachelor's in economics, Oakland University.

Family: Married, one child.

Website: None.

Name: Michelle Robertson

Residence: Fraser

Party: Democrat

Age: 45

Occupation: Nursing home executive

Education: Bachelor's degree in strategic leadership, Rochester College; associate degree in international and intercultural communication, Macomb Community College.

Family: Information not available.

Website: www.votemichellerobertson.com

Name: William "Bill" Sowerby

Residence: Clinton Township

Party: Democrat

Age: 63

Occupation: State representative

Education: Bachelor of Arts, Wayne State University.

Family: Married, one son.

Website: www.billsowerby.com

Name: Lisa Valerio-Nowc

Residence: Clinton Township

Age: 53

Occupation: President and Founder, Librarian at Large, a nonprofit that brings libraries to children who can't get to one.

Education: Bachelor's degree in English, master's of library science, both from Wayne State University.

Family: Married, no children.

Website: None.

Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Several state House lawmakers face primary challenges in Macomb County

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